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@nitro -tstr stmt fnf LEONARD FLEOKENSTINE, OF MANOR TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND PETER F. BINKLEY, OFTI-IE SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 627,279, @lated July 30, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-caresses.

TO ALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, LEONARD FLECKENSTINE, of Manor township, in the county of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Combination and Arrangement in a Fruit-(Siatherer;l and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clean-ani exact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part-of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2, detached portions of the same with letters of reference.

Figure 3 illustrates two'of the four-finger plates. f

Figure 4 the-common handle-splice and ring shown.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a leather cap and s ack withingers, thatcan be operated from two opposite sides, so as to close up or grip an Aapple or other fruit, 'when necessary, and so also that will allow the lingers to be turned to any desired angle, or upside down, if required', thereby adapting-it s o that a fruit can be approached from any side or from any position occupied by the gatherer, and consequently it is not necessary to change from' one place to another, continually, while-gathering. y

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. i Y l The finger-supports consist of four pieces, two of which, A, have pivot ends with a screw-thread for a nut. The other two, B, being stationary, have holes for the reception of the pivot ends, in which the' side pieces A have their motion, being connected with the jaws or side supports by a pin, a, which forms pivots upon which the cap revolves. The skeleton framework and fingers of the cap are shown by fig. 3in part. A and B consist of fiat' strips of ion curved centrally, with the ends turned out, by which they are hinged, at right angles to each other, as shown. Each has three curved fingers F riveted to it, i. e., to A A and B B, all of which are covered with leather forming the cap and finger-supports in g. 1. This cap is supported andV revolves in a spring-bar or jaw E on each side on the pivots a of the cap. This jaw E'extends downwards and passes between the double Alever-bars K, and is curved inwards below the cheek-plate L. This cheek-plate is hinged toa lug, G, on the jaw E, and curved downwards, with the lower ends rmly connected with the top of the pole or handle P, and supports the spring-bars or jaws E. The lower ends of the latter are also heldin place by a spring, M. The double lever-bars K, which operate the jaws E, are lconnected by a staple, N, over the top of the lpole P, as a. common centre or pivot.v A cord, k, passes through the curved angles of the lever-bars K on each side. These cords are yconnected above, and are terminated by a ring, T,.for operating the jaws E and fingers F on the two side plates A of the cap. There is also a ratchet-wheel, C, on one side of the cap ailixed to the pivot;` A click-rod and plate, D, act between the ratchet-teeth, and prevent the turning of the cap by means of a coiled spring, I, between the lugs H, that also acts as a bearing for the click-rod, which latter has an eye below for a cord, d, to operate theclick and ratchet. The lugs H being altixe'd to the jaws E,- I use a common' handle, Q, fig. 4, out; obliq'uely, with pins and al-metal ring or band,"R, by which means I connect a long or short handle, at pleasure, with my fingered cap andxings. i

The operation is readily understood, and in practice perfectly simple, The ring and cords are only now and then brought into requisition, as when you have gathered the fruit from-one side. and wit-hout changing the ladder or position, 'you simply draw the cord d, which releases the click D from the ratchet-wheelCand allows the cap to swing round to the desired position, where it will be held by releasing' thecord, when the click4 will'spring in place. It sometimes happens that the fruit is so firmly attached that the simple action of the fingers will not answer, in which case'the fingers can be drawn together so as to grip the-fruit firmly and pull it olf, by pulling the cord k. i The double levers K, by the Aunion of their ends across the jaws E, press them inwards above, and the two side series of fingers A, connected with the staple a, are'drawn together. On slacking the cord k the springs M restore the jaws to their place.. It will be seen that thevjaws move on the pivot through the lugs G connecting them with'the stationary cheeks L. The bag connected with the cap may be varied in length or depth, but for picking choice fruit it is better to pick but a few at a time; they will be less likelyto bruise. This implement is bett-er adapted for passing between the branches than muslin sacks or sleeves, so easily entangled and diicult to mannage from the trunk of the'tree outward, overhead, and'all around among the branches. I prefere leather cap and small sack. I am not aware thatleather has heretofore been used for lining fruit-gatherers, but it is evidently thebest material. I am aware that movable jaws have been used, but differing substantially from my arrangement of the jaws, ratchet, cliok, and cheek connections; and the revolving cap and sack combined form severally new arrangements in the parts employed.

l What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement'of tbe hinged finger-supports A with the pin or pivot a, in combination with the hinged jaws Efor operating them in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the jaws E, I claim the ratchet-wheel o, olik D, spring` I, between the supporting:

lugsHy arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

l3. I claim the united double levers K for operating theijaws E by means of cords k, in the manner specified.

4. I claim the arrangement of the cheek-pieces L, hinged above to the jawsE and attached to the pole, in the manner and for the purpose set forth. i

5. I also claim theleather cap and sack, revolving on its pivots a, and provided with fixed and rigid ngers F on their respective supports A B, arranged and operated in the manner specified. Y

LEONARD FLECKENSTINE.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, JACOB Smumarmv 

